Command Comfort Blog : Posts Tagged ‘Ductwork’

Ducts are often ignored by homeowners, and it’s not hard to understand why. Ducts fulfill a vital role, transporting warm and cool air throughout the house. However, they are also rather large and a bit of an eyesore. This is why they are largely installed out of sight, where they do not offend homeowners’ aesthetic sensibilities. Unfortunately, this kind of unobtrusive installation also makes them more likely to be neglected by homeowners when it comes to maintenance. Let’s find out what can happen to your ducts when they aren’t properly maintained, and how you can keep them operating properly.

Duct Leaks

Ductwork is not affected by a wide range of issues, primarily due to its simple construction. However, those problems that do affect ducts can be a big hindrance to their proper operation. Duct leaks are the worst of these problems. Duct leaks can form in many ways, whether from animal activity, human error, improper installation, or even regular use. For the most part, these leaks are fairly small. However, there are often a high number of them in each duct network, and their cumulative effect can be substantial. An average forced air system can lose as much as 30% of its output to leaks in the ductwork. That is why duct sealing is so important.

The Economic Benefits of Duct Sealing

Duct sealing is a process by which all leaks in your home’s ductwork are found and closed. It is meant to eliminate the loss of energy through those leaks during the operation of any forced air system. Losing that much energy from your heating or air conditioning system amounts to a significant waste of money. Duct sealing saves you money by eliminating that energy loss, shortening the time that your system needs to operate. Though any duct sealing is better than no duct sealing, remember that leaks can continue to form even after the procedure. For that reason, we recommend having your ducts sealed at least once every two years.

The health and comfort of your family are two of the most important considerations when scheduling services for your home. Often, you seek the help of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technicians because you wish to upgrade or repair your home heating and AC system for your family’s comfort. But you may also decide to call on the help of technicians when you notice repeated issues with your family’s health.

Do frequent allergy or asthma symptoms affect your family? Does it seem that you’ve made far too many visits to your doctor’s office in the past year? Part of the problem may be that the air in your home isn’t as clean as you’d like. When you decide it’s time to take control over the quality of the air your family breathes, call Command A/C. We install indoor air quality systems and provide professional ductwork services in Long Beach, CA and Orange County, CA.

UV Lights

A UV light purifier is able to kill bacteria and viruses living in the ductwork of your home. These microorganisms thrive in moist and dark conditions, much like the conditions on your air conditioner’s condenser coil. The blower fan may blow bacteria directly into the home, leading to illness. UV lights kill small organisms instantly. These are recommended for people with compromised immune systems, small children, or the elderly.

Air Filters and Purifiers

You should already have an air filter in your home heating and AC system, but if you don’t regularly change it and look for a new filter with a high efficiency rating, you may not get quite the level of air filtration you need. Check the minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of your filter, and consider purchasing one with a higher MERV than your previous filter. You might also consider an electronic air purifier, which supplements your HVAC filter for advanced particle elimination.

Duct Sealing

Sealing the ducts can keep particles from entering and distributing into your home. For example, holes in the ducts may allow insulation from the attic to penetrate your home, a substance made of fibers which are usually not safe to inhale.

Call the experts at Command A/C today for ductwork repair or indoor air quality system installation in Long Beach, CA.